Ai Weiwei takes us on a tour of his Beijing
- Text by HUCK HQ
- Photography by Royal Academy
“Beijing is not the old Beijing any more,” explains Ai Weiwei. “It’s a city that doesn’t really belong to its residents.”
But in a city not designed to consider ordinary people’s lives, dissident artist and human rights protestor Ai Weiwei – who spent four years under house arrest – reveals how he has found sanctuary in his home neighbourhood of Caochangdi.
In the first instalment of Guardian Cities/Tate special series The Artist and Their City, Ai explains how this forgotten suburb of the Chinese capital is home to his studio and where he has tried to foster spaces for creative freedom and artistic expression.
The film offers an insight into the space where Ai created many of the pieces that go on display at his forthcoming London show at The Royal Academy.
To find out more about Ai Weiwei, watch the incredible documentary Never Sorry or check out his show at the RA, from September 19.
You might like
Activists slam “pervert glasses” in new guerrilla campaign
Everyone Hates Elon — Stickers have appeared on the London Underground network, criticising the wearable technology’s covert filming capabilities.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Behind the curtain at Alternative Miss World 1981
Olympia glamour — Running a subversive take on the traditional beauty pageant, the Andrew Logan organised event prioritised underground creativity and invention. Photographer David Corio went behind the scenes at its biggest edition.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Dan Lacey: “BMX is forever evolving”
Overground — Steph Pomphrey caught up with the two-wheel legend after his latest meet in east London, chatting about fatherhood, music and action sports within the outdoor industry.
Written by: Steph Pomphrey
The battle for the soul of lockpicking
Under locksport and key — In recent years, breaking locks for fun has grown from a niche hobby into an activity followed by millions of people. As it has matured, so have tensions over who sets the rules.
Written by: Jack Dennison-Thompson
New exhibition highlights British radical living over 200 years
Earthly Paradise — Taking place at the William Morris Gallery, it explores the homes and lives of artists, writers, musicians and more, as well as the conditions that allowed them to thrive.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Kristina Rozhkova’s scatty, confronting portrait of captivity
Gut Feeling — The Russian artist’s 2024 arrest and subsequent detention opened her eye towards the omnipresent dynamics of power and control. Her new photobook is a stark exploration of being trapped.
Written by: Isaac Muk
